As any prominent awards ceremony nears, one notices a demand for the addition of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything that year
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
